View full sizeSuper Bowl MVP Joe Flacco, right, has positioned himself to earn a huge contract from the Baltimore Ravens, who are up against the salary cap. But speculation that Flacco could end up in Cleveland feels like it's coming right out of the Magic Kingdom, writes Terry Pluto.AP

CLEVELAND, Ohio - In the end, it would be stunning if Baltimore allowed it to happen.

After going through 15 starting quarterbacks in 11 years from 1996-2007, Baltimore made Joe Flacco its top pick in 2008.

Now, if you're a Browns fan, it's fun to close your eyes and picture Flacco in an orange helmet running an offense designed by Norv Turner and Rob Chudzinski.

The 6-foot-6, 245-pound Flacco is in his prime at 28. He knows how to win in the brutal AFC North. He's played 10 games against the Browns - five at Cleveland Browns Stadium - in his career. And he's never lost a first-round playoff game.

He is exactly the type of rocket-armed, big, durable quarterback that the Browns need to win in the wind whirling off Lake Erie.

All have started at least eight games since the Ravens moved to Baltimore.

The Ravens are talking about salary-cap issues. They are now $5 million over the cap and haven't signed Flacco. But it would be destructive for them to try to save at quarterback.

It not only is the most important position on the field, it also is the hardest to replace.

Please, don't believe the theory of the Ravens dumping Flacco on the Browns.

For the sake of discussion, here's how it would work:

The Browns would sign Flacco to a deal worth more than $20 million annually -- making him the highest-paid player in NFL history. The Browns could do that because they have $48 million on their salary cap.

As compensation, the Ravens would receive the Browns' first-rounder this season (No. 6 overall); and the Browns' first-round pick in 2014. Then Baltimore would acquire Alex Smith to replace Flacco.

If you own the Ravens, do you allow Newsome to seriously consider that?

More likely, a veteran and future Hall of Famer such as Ed Reed would be allowed to leave as a free agent. The same with some other key players.

OK, it's the middle of February, and the Browns are always looking for a quarterback. And it's a fantasy that is at least based on some semblance of reality, which is why Sports Illustrated's Peter King and some others have suggested it.

And the Browns need to see if there is a way they can snare Flacco, who would be a proven, long-term solution at the position.

But will it happen?

I doubt it.

- Story updated at 4:37 p.m. EST to correct number of games Flacco has played against the Browns and at Cleveland Browns Stadium.

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